Successful Delivery! Mid-Infrared Tunable Femtosecond Laser System Empowers Frontier Research at a Double First-Class University

01 When ultrafast meets the “molecular fingerprint” — an increasingly urgent need
From the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics (attosecond science) to the explosive worldwide growth of terahertz imaging and mid-infrared ultrafast spectroscopy, ultrafast optics is evolving from a “basic-research tool” into a “multidisciplinary infrastructure.” Amid this shift, research teams are voicing an increasingly common requirement for femtosecond laser systems: a single high-energy femtosecond engine that simultaneously supports three experimental routes — high-harmonic generation (HHG), terahertz (THz), and a mid-infrared tunable OPA.
This means the driving source must not only deliver “high enough power” and “short enough pulse duration,” but also be “one engine for many uses” — feeding multiple downstream modules at once, via beam splitting or time multiplexing, without compromising key specifications. This is precisely how the WaveQuanta HELIOS + AURORA-IR platform is positioned. 👇
02 Successful delivery: one engine + one OPA, three research routes
WaveQuanta recently delivered a complete mid-infrared tunable femtosecond laser system to the ultrafast-optics research group of a renowned domestic Double First-Class university. The group has deep expertise across high-harmonic generation, terahertz generation, and mid-infrared molecular spectroscopy, and set extremely high requirements for the comprehensive performance of the driving source.
🎯 Customer profile
An ultrafast-optics laboratory at a renowned domestic Double First-Class university, with long-standing work on gas-phase HHG, lithium-niobate-based terahertz radiation generation, and mid-infrared OPA-pumped molecular-vibration spectroscopy.
🎯 Scope of delivery
•HELIOS-20W-HE: a 1030 nm Yb high-energy femtosecond engine — 2.1 mJ per pulse, 21.42 W average power, 10–100 kHz repetition rate;
•AURORA-IR-HE: a broadly tunable mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier covering 1360–4500 nm (signal + idler), with 1.4 mJ pump-pulse energy.
🎯 Core research directions covered
•Gas-phase high-harmonic generation (HHG) and development of extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) / soft-X-ray light sources;
•High-energy terahertz radiation generation based on MgO:LiNbO₃ crystals;
•Mid-infrared OPA-pumped molecular-vibration spectroscopy and ultrafast dynamics (pump-probe, 2D-IR);
•Future expansion: MPC pulse compression (< 40 fs) and a full-wavelength 210–16000 nm OPA chain.
03 Why did they choose WaveQuanta?
Before formal procurement, the customer group had originally selected a top-tier European brand, but — constrained by import/export licensing — turned instead to a systematic evaluation of domestic solutions. They ultimately chose WaveQuanta for four reasons:
•The only manufacturer in China offering a standardized product line that combines a 2 mJ-class Yb femtosecond engine (HELIOS-HE) with a broadly tunable mid-infrared OPA (AURORA-IR-HE);
•Performance close to the imported benchmark: measured 21.42 W / 2.1 mJ / 228.5 fs / 0.26 % RMS @ 24 h / M² 1.13;
•Lead time roughly 6 months faster than the European option, with no import/export-licensing risk;
•On-site customization capability — mechanical structure, beam-path height, and cooling-water interfaces all adapted to the laboratory’s conditions.
04 Two sets of “hard specs”
🔹 HELIOS-20W-HE engine
[Figure] HELIOS-20W-HE autocorrelation pulse duration 228.5 fs (FWHM, @ 10 kHz / 2.1 mJ)
[Figure] HELIOS-20W-HE 24 h power stability RMS = 0.26 %
🔹 AURORA-IR-HE mid-infrared OPA
Tuning range 1360–4500 nm, pump-pulse energy 1.4 mJ @ 10 kHz. Measured signal + idler totaling 2978 mW at 1650 nm, with a peak conversion efficiency of 15.86 % (specification > 9 %). At 1550 nm, the 15 h power stability is RMS = 0.39 %.
[Figure] AURORA-IR-HE signal + idler power tuning curve (measured)
[Figure] AURORA-IR-HE 15 h power stability RMS = 0.39 % @ 1550 nm
05 In the customer’s words
“Before purchasing from WaveQuanta, we had selected a European brand, but were constrained by import/export licensing. Among domestic brands, WaveQuanta is the only company that offers both a 2 mJ Yb femtosecond laser and a mid-infrared OPA. To be honest, we were nervous when we placed the order — but based on our experience so far, WaveQuanta’s product quality is already very close to the imported products we used previously, and the performance is satisfying.”
“WaveQuanta has a strong R&D team; pre-sales communication was smooth, and they quickly understood our scientific needs. Installation was efficient and flexibly accommodated our on-site customization requirements. The lead time was about 6 months earlier than the imported option, greatly improving our work efficiency.”
“We are very satisfied with WaveQuanta’s products and service. Next, we will also consider purchasing an MPC module (to compress the pulse to < 40 fs) and multiple OPAs (covering 210–16000 nm). We look forward to WaveQuanta fully replacing imported products in the future.”
—— Principal investigator of the customer group for this project
06 The WaveQuanta perspective
This successful delivery to a renowned domestic Double First-Class university is yet another benchmark case for the WaveQuanta HELIOS + AURORA-IR platform in “one engine, many lines” application scenarios. From HHG to terahertz, from mid-infrared OPA to future MPC few-cycle compression — WaveQuanta is using a standardized product matrix to progressively replace imported solutions, giving domestic research teams a fully self-controllable light-source platform for ultrafast optics.
💬 If you are setting up an HHG / THz / mid-infrared ultrafast / 2D-IR / TA experimental station, feel free to leave a message. WaveQuanta application engineers will provide one-on-one support for product selection and beam-path design.